1. Police have released an audio recording of a woman ringing 999 to complain about a lack of sprinkles on her ice cream.

Officers are using the bizarre call as a chance to remind people about only calling 999 during an emergency.

2. Chief Superintendent Jim Andronov, head of the force’s Contact Centre, said: “Typically West Midlands Police receive over 1500 calls a day to the 999 number and our operatives have to deal with each one accordingly.

“Of these, some 10 to 20% are not police matters and around 50 per cent are non-emergency calls where contact is appropriate via the 101 number.

“As well as the bizarre calls police also receive deliberate hoax calls which take up vital time.

“I cannot stress enough that the 999 number is for emergencies only, for guidance this is defined as: a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened.”